Dishonest Political Pulpits

Published: July 24, 2009 1:37PM

Bible Baptist Church has posted a "patriotic" sermon from June 14, 2009 on their web site (http://www.biblebaptistchurchcambridge.com/index.php?con=guest_sermons). During the rendition of the message five sayings are attributed to four Founding Fathers (one each for Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, James Madison, Patrick Henry) and one saying is attributed to Abraham Lincoln. Thus, five "quotations" are offered in total. Out of those five, ALL are fake statements not found in surviving works of their alleged authors. Five false quotes in an audio clip which lasts only about 7 minutes. That's almost one false quote a minute.

- Jefferson never said "the Bible is the cornerstone of our liberties". It is simply a false statement that has been attributed to him. I know you can find it on countless website and in Religious Right books, but the one place you cannot find it is in his original works and achieves. Look for yourself: http://etext.virginia.edu/jefferson/

- James Madison never said, "Our future is staked on the 10 commandments" In similar fashion to the statement attributed to Jefferson above, Madison never said these words. I have personally gone to his paper archive online and conducted a search. I also went to my own personal bounded copy of Madison's works and did not find it. Look for yourself: http://www.virginia.edu/pjm/

- Patrick Henry never said, "It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists but by Christians not on religions but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ." Although unlike the fake quotes attributed to Jefferson and Madison above, this one does fit the character of Patrick Henry who was a very conservative and traditional Christian. However, once again it is falsely attributed to him.

Washington does not say "you cannot have national morality apart from religious principle." Rather he said, "And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion." Thus, the person talking misrepresents Washington's statement by making it seem absolute, when it was cautionary. Look for yourself: http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/washing.asp

The quote attributed to Lincoln "the philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next." Is most likely a false quote as the publisher of the periodical "Abraham Lincoln Observer" is quoted as dismissing this statement and another quote by saying, "The problem is, neither of these quotes are supported by any legitimate, firsthand testimony that I know of. (They're on the web a million times, of course, but never with a source had citation" almost all the posters are simply using purported Abe quotes to support their preconceived positions.)" Again, I also personally went and looked through the Lincoln Papers and also could not find this statement anywhere. Look for yourself: http://www.papersofabrahamlincoln.org/ or here: http://quod.lib.umich.edu/l/lincoln/

http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/capital.asp

Wouldn't you think if you really loved this country you would take the time to make sure you were accurately quoting its Founders rather than simply and unquestioningly accepting what you have read or have been told? Secondly, if a church is historically dishonest, what confidence should anyone have that they are spiritually honest? Who knows what they are unquestioningly accepting and not investigating on that front?

The parishioners at Bible Baptist Church and prospective parishioners have a right to know the dishonesty which is being spewed from that church's pulpit.